Manila, Metro Manila
The Faculty of Arts and Letters is an academic unit of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), located in Manila, Philippines. Established in 1896, it serves as the institution’s center for the humanities, social sciences, and communication studies. As part of the oldest existing university in Asia, the faculty operates under the administrative structure of the University of Santo Tomas, which is a private, Catholic research university managed by the Order of Preachers. The faculty functions as a degree-granting body, providing undergraduate education to students across various disciplines within the liberal arts tradition.
The academic structure of the Faculty of Arts and Letters is organized into several departments, including the Department of Communication and Media Studies, the Department of Economics, the Department of English, the Department of History, the Department of Journalism, the Department of Legal Management, the Department of Literature, the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Political Science, and the Department of Sociology. These departments oversee the curriculum and research activities for their respective fields. The faculty offers a range of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs, designed to provide students with foundational knowledge in theoretical frameworks, critical analysis, and technical skills relevant to their chosen majors.
The campus facilities for the Faculty of Arts and Letters are integrated into the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila. Students have access to university-wide infrastructure, including the Miguel de Benavides Library, which holds extensive collections of academic texts, periodicals, and digital archives. The campus also provides laboratory facilities for communication and journalism students, including broadcasting studios and multimedia production rooms. These physical resources support the faculty’s commitment to combining classroom instruction with technical training in media and research methodologies.
Accreditation for the programs offered by the Faculty of Arts and Letters is managed through the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), which evaluates the quality of academic programs in the Philippines. The faculty maintains compliance with the standards set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). These accreditation processes involve periodic reviews of curricula, faculty qualifications, and student performance to ensure that the programs meet national educational benchmarks. As an unit of the University of Santo Tomas, the faculty adheres to the institutional policies and academic regulations established by the university administration.
The academic strengths of the faculty are centered on the integration of liberal arts education with practical application in professional fields. The curriculum for programs such as Legal Management and Political Science is designed to prepare students for law school or careers in government and public administration. Similarly, the programs in Communication and Journalism emphasize the development of media literacy and technical proficiency in content creation. The faculty also maintains a focus on research, encouraging both students and academic staff to contribute to scholarly discourse in the humanities and social sciences through published papers and academic conferences.
The Faculty of Arts and Letters operates within the broader mission of the University of Santo Tomas, which emphasizes a commitment to Catholic intellectual tradition. This context influences the faculty's educational approach, which often includes a core curriculum of philosophy and theology courses alongside major-specific requirements. This interdisciplinary structure aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human society, ethics, and cultural history. The faculty also maintains partnerships with various industry stakeholders and academic organizations to facilitate internships and collaborative research projects, bridging the gap between academic theory and professional practice.
Admission to the Faculty of Arts and Letters is subject to the university-wide entrance examination process managed by the University of Santo Tomas. Prospective students are evaluated based on their performance in the entrance tests, as well as their secondary school records. Once admitted, students follow a structured academic path that includes general education requirements, major coursework, and elective subjects. The faculty provides academic advising and student services to assist with program progression and career development. Through its departments and support systems, the faculty continues to manage a significant student population, contributing to the overall academic output of the university.
